Artists and their "signature songs"

[LoathedVermin72]

This is a particularly tough question for SP because they have such a wide range of sounds. "1979" sounds like a totally different band than "Tales of a Scorched Earth". And those are on the same album!

[Ello Sailor]

It's not tough at all. It's very clearly "1979".

[Jorge]

I disagree

[LoathedVermin72]

Yeah I don't know that I would pick that either. My gut says "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"

[Ello Sailor]

Fools!

[Jorge]

Pretty sure Billy said that 1979 is the song that even people that don't like his music like.

We have a kind of "rule" we've implemented a few times which is the "Friday I'm in Love" exception (though I guess it could also be considered the "Last Kiss" exception).

The idea is that sometimes an artist has a song that is clearly their biggest hit, the one most likely to be heard out in the world by people who might not even be able to name the artist. But in some cases, that song has taken on such a life of its own that it feels bigger than the artist, or slightly detached from what people think of as the artist’s core identity. When that happens, we sometimes hesitate to call it their true signature song.

It’s not always easy to apply consistently. For example, as mentioned earlier, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is easily Tears for Fears's biggest song, but to me it still feels like their signature song because it doesn’t feel so detached from the band’s overall artistic identity. It still points directly back to what Tears for Fears are.

With the Smashing Pumpkins, I’m still mulling it over. I wonder if the "Friday I’m in Love" exception applies to "1979." It may be their most broadly beloved song, and probably the one most casual listeners know best. But "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" feels more like the song where the band’s mythology, sound, image, attitude, etc all collapse into an immediately recognizable song/music video/moment.

So I’m not saying "1979" is disqualified automatically, I may come out on that side of it I’m just trying to figure out whether it represents the Smashing Pumpkins as a whole, or whether it has become its own thing. Right now, I think "1979" may be their biggest song, but "Bullet..." feels more like their signature song.

[BurtReynolds]

Bullet would be my pick since the chorus is so well known is basically a meme. Though Today and Disarm are still played all the time (and I'm kind of sick of both of them). I don't seem to hear 1979 quite as much, but maybe that's just me.

[Ello Sailor]

Pretty sure Billy said that 1979 is the song that even people that don't like his music like.

We have a kind of "rule" we've implemented a few times...

That makes no sense but I'm glad you're having fun!

[Jorge]

It makes sense, I explained how

[Farmer John]

Musically, "Down" seems like it kind of covers all the bases, but is it popular enough? A lot of people do know the Singles soundtrack.

"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" is probably the right answer

[Jorge]

Nobody knows "Drown"! You even forgot how to spell it

[Farmer John]

I could have sworn it was called "Down"

[BurtReynolds]

you're thinking of 311.

[Jorge]

Or Blink 182, or Pearl Jam

[Farmer John]

I was thinking of 311.

"Down" by 311 is my pick for Smashing Pumpkins' signature song.

[oasisfan35]

We're preparing an episode on Smashing Pumpkins. We have 5 solid contenders:
"Today"
"DIsarm"
"Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
"1979"
"Tonight Tonight"

but for the sixth spot, I am torn between "Zero" and "Cherub Rock".

On one hand, "Zero" is iconic: it charted higher, the "ZERO" shirt was a defining look, it was on The Simpsons, and the whole "God is empty, just like me" part feels extremely Corgan.

On the other hand, "Cherub Rock" is the fan/rock-cred pick, and maybe the best representation of their guitar sound and the indie era, and it seems to be more popular nowadays than "Zero". Also has more streams, and I've actually heard it out in public (unlike "Zero"). Also it's a bit more interesting thematically imo

Help me pick between those two pls

I'd go with Zero personally, the reasons you mention I find stronger. I feel Zero really hits all the Pumpkins 'notes' and at 2:40, Cherub Rock is tremendous but less accomplished in that regard at 4:58; it feels a bit dated to where the Pumpkins were three years later as well. Always an interesting exercise and look forward to listening to this one.

Neither would be my final selection however.

[zeb]

Today over BWBW as their signature song and Cherub Rock over Zero for your sixth spot.

[Ello Sailor]

It makes sense, I explained how

Nah, all that waffle about a song "becoming bigger than the artist" is utter nonsense. Your thoughts on Smash Mouth's "All Star" confirms this.

But I understand that, without you playing devil's advocate, there would be no podcast.

Did you decide on "Cherub" or "Zero"?

[Ello Sailor]

So BWBW is their most-played song live. It's their only song to reach 1000+!

I would like to retract that you're fools for suggesting it's their signature song.

1979 obliterates it in streams, though.

[Jorge]

It makes sense, I explained how

Nah, all that waffle about a song "becoming bigger than the artist" is utter nonsense. Your thoughts on Smash Mouth's "All Star" confirms this.

But I understand that, without you playing devil's advocate, there would be no podcast.

Did you decide on "Cherub" or "Zero"?

I don't really remember what I said about "All Star" but if the exercise was purely about finding the artist's most popular song from a numerical standpoint it would be a simpler discussion. Other factors come into play, and one of those is how much the song adheres to a band's identity and public perception. It's what we ended up deciding about "Friday I'm in Love," which doesn't define The Cure despite being by far their biggest hit. "Last Kiss" is similarly Pearl Jam's biggest chart hit, and we didn't even consider it as a contender for their signature song for this reason. When we inevitably record our Elvis Costello episode, we will likely not include his cover of "She", his biggest chart and streaming hit which sounds like nothing else he ever made. Meanwhile "All Star" is a Smash Mouth song that sounds very much like Smash Mouth.

It's all very squishy, not an exact science, and inevitably there will be contradictions and inconsistencies.

Not sure yet about "Cherub" or "Zero", still mulling it over. We record next week